Welcome to the 14th stop of the His & Hers Sew-Along with microMod!

I met Alexia at Sewing Summit 2012 when I signed up for her bag making class (still need to complete btw). I think we really hit it off at Quiltcon 2013.

Alexia is designer/writer.

Rob (her hubby) is an artist/illustrator.

Rob’s first fabric design, mircoMod from Cloud9 caught my eye last November and when it was available to buy. . . I jumped!

There have been some many great projects that have come out of this sew-along!!!  If you missed it – don’t worry the links are below this picture!

Today, I’m showing you how to make an Eyelet quilt block.

Fabric Requirements per block:

• (4)  3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches of printed fabric
• (2) 4 x 4 inches of solid fabric (or whatever print is going in the curves) 
• (2) 4 x 4 inches of background fabric

Block Constructions steps:

• First you’ll need to make (2) 3.25 x 3.25 drunkard’s path block.  You’ll need to buy a drunkard’s path template and best I found are:

Tabslot                                       Joann’s  

The best resources that I found for Drunkard’s Path block are:

The Sometimes Crafter

Needle and Spatula (she’ll even show you how without buying a template)

• After you’re done with the (2) drunkard’s path blocks start sewing your blocks together like so:

• Unfinished block should measure 9 1/2 x 6 1/2

If you play around with the layout you could get something pretty spectacular!!!!!

Now for the giveaway – I have (1) fat quarter bundle of mircoMod and a Greenbee Pattern of your choice.

How to enter (winner will selected on Sunday):

• Tell me your favorite print from microMod or your favorite Green Bee Pattern
• Follow my blog for another entry (see that button on the bottom right) and leave a comment saying so
• Follow Green Bee Patterns on Facebook and leave a comment saying so
• Follow Cloud 9 on Facebook and leave a comment saying so

I’m really happy with how this quilt turned out. It’s also fast to put together! Each block measures 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 (unfinished) and I teach you how to make HSTs (half square triangles) fast!

You honestly can’t go wrong when you choose Pure Elements Solids.  The hues are awesome. . so bright and the can literally feel the superior in quality.  If you don’t have Pure Elements in your stash. . seriously reconsider and add some!  The solids I used in the quilt above are:

• Cherry Lipgloss
• Crystal Pink
• Mirage Blue
• Parisian Blue
• Light Citron
• Verve Violet
• Cabernet
• Empire Yellow

Now for the giveaway details:

Up for grabs a fat quarter pack of the colors in this quilt!

You can find Pure Elements in some of my favorite online shops:

Moona Fabrics                     Fat Quarter Shop

The Intrepid Thread         Hawthorne Threads

How to Enter to Win:

• Leave a comment on what your favorite Pure Elements solid is
• Follow my blog for another entry (see that button on the bottom right)
• Follow Art Gallery on their blog and leave a comment
• Follow Art Gallery on Facebook and leave a comment
• Follow Art Gallery on Twitter and leave a comment
• Follow Art Gallery on Pinterest and leave a comment

Winner will be selected  on Friday April 19 – Good luck!

I’m really luck to have such a great photo assistant btw!

(Front)

(Back)

This quilt was meant for a family-friend.  When I started picking out the fabric from it – she said she loved greens and purples.  So when Price Charming by Tula Pink (spring 2011) and Heirloom by Joel Dewberry (spring 2011) hit the market, I knew it would be a good fit together.  Well til’ I started putting the blocks together. . . I thought, “God this looks like a hot mess!”

After finishing the top, and then sending it to a wonderful local quilter to finish it, I thought: “Well this isn’t that bad!”  I just used a Moda Bella Solid light blue for the binding.
It’s funny how things work out. . .

So when my dad saw the finished quilt – he wanted it for himself.  It made me laugh.  This hot purple, pink, and green quilt for my 71yr old dad.  Gotta love it.  So last week when I popped the quilt in the washer before work. .I thought I can’t wait to see it wrinkled up from the dryer.  I told my pops that it was in the washer and I still need to put it in the dryer.  Mainly because up to this point, he’s been asking me every week when he could have his quilt.  Eager beaver style.  I came home and the quilt was gone from the washer. . . and it wasn’t in the dryer.  Dad was so eager that he put the quilt in the dryer, folded it, and went on his marry way with it.

This morning, my dad told me, “Mom stole the quilt so you’re going to have to make me another one.”  Funny right?

(Close up of the quilting)

Welcome to the next block tutorial of Diary of  A Quilter’s Virtual Quilting Bee!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/p/the-virtual-quilting-bee.html" title="Virtual Quilting Bee"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2cw4xnxZq0/URwIt-FQUfI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/gQIjhvB2K4o/s170/virtual%2Bquilting%2Bbee%2B150.jpg" alt="Virtual Quilting Bee" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

The Virtual Quilting Bee is a great online Quilt-A-Long combined with great tips and tricks. Earlier this month, Mrs. Sherri of A Quilting Life showed us how to make a great Sawtooth Block.

Regarding fabric selection, I wanted to add to my current sampler quilt and use red, yellow, and grey.

If you’re still debating on color choices – try this Design Seed, Jessica puts great color palette together.

Today, I’m showing you a brand new block called the Origami Star.

Fabric Requirements:

• (4) 1.75 x 4.5 inches strips in fabric choice 1 (Strip#1)
• (4) 1.75 x 4.5 inches strips in fabric choice 2 (Strip#2)
• (4) 2.00 x 4.5 inches strips in fabric choice 3 (Strip#3)
• (12) 2.5 x 2.5 inches squares in background fabric (with a pencil or Pilot FriXion pen mark a diagonal line on each small square)

Block Construction steps:

*If you do “chain piecing” you should have this block done in less time it takes you to make dinner.  Chain piecing is sewing your units in an assembly line.

Step 1:  Sew strips together – you want the large strip in the middle.

• Sew Strip#1 to Strip#3
• Press seams open
• Sew Strip#2 to the other side of Strip#3
• When you’re all done you should have a block that measures 4.5 x 4.5 (square it up)

Step 2: Sew background fabric to 4.5 x 4.5 block ***W A R N I N G***  Make sure if you’re chain piecing to have each block positioned the same so you don’t mess up on background fabric placement and have to unpick

• Take (1) 2.5 x 2.5 background square block (right sides together) and line it with the top of your 4.5 x 4.5 square and sew on the line that you’ve marked.
• Trim off the corner leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance
• Press the seam allowance open
• Place another background square on the opposite side of the square and repeat the instructions above
• Place the last background square on and repeat

Step 3: Sewing the Units together

• With a 1/4 seam allowance sew the corner units together.
• Press seams open

Please link up in the flickr group or if you’re on Instagram use the #virtualquiltingbee – I would love too see your versions of this block!!!! The next block will be 4.5.13 can’t wait to see what’s next!

p.s Stay tuned and I’ll update the block tutorial to for a 12.5 x 12.5

Remember my Valentine quilt?  Well I was able to finish all the blocks and lay them out Friday night, and seriously loved how it turned out (yeah I’m tooting my horn, it’s tootable) :

The whole day light savings time really messed me up and I didn’t get much sleep on Sunday.  I’ve got all the blocks sewn together and now I just need to sew the rows together.  I’ve got ideas for quilting it too.

It’s seems like forever since I was able to chug out a sewing project.  After this one, I’m spending some serious time organizing and destashing my fabric.  I’m way too embarrassed to show you my fabric piles right now.    Maybe to make me feel better about my fabric mess you can show me your fabric mess and I’ll give away my swag bag from Quiltcon as shown below:

Ways you can enter (open til 3.16.13):

• If you’re on Instagram show me a picture of your fabric stash – use #sukieswag
• Leave a comment here with a link to your picture of your awesome fabric stash be it on the blog/flickr/tweet

If you’re family or friends and aren’t into quilting, I was in Austin,TX for the last 5 days working.

Quiltcon is the first international modern quilt show.

I traveled with my good buddy, Marci (who really got roped into helping more than she volunteered for). We did our customary feet picture with ugly airport-carpet-backdrop:

Once we landed, I headed straight to the convention center to setup and it’s been a whirlwind since then. If you didn’t see me around, I was mostly manning the office and checking in instructors, here’s a few favorites:

Being behind the scenes and getting to talk to my heros was great! One great moment is when “the Butlers” checked in and I came back to the room and announced, “The Butlers are here!” David and Amy are just the sweetest and funniest couple.

Here they are drawing some inspiration from Denyse Schmidt:

(hilarious right?)

I got to see some pretty dang awesome things when I actually was able to get away to the show floor:

(youngest fmq in the Stitchlab – she might rule the quilting world one day, so watch out!)

(Grandma’s Flower Garden skirt – HOT!)

Just a small sample of the booths (at this point I should of brought my camera):

The quilts! I could only snap a couple of my favorites and I didn’t really get a chance to see who they were made by (if you know, please let me know so I can give proper credit):

Oh yes! If you were following via Instagram, I did get a tattoo – HK but it looks kind of gross right now so I’m not going to show it off.

I’m really, really, really grateful for the opportunity to be a Board Member and be apart of this great show.  Thanks to everyone who attended and volunteered – where would we be without your support.

I remember when I first started quilting and Amy’s blog was instantly on my google reader.  She’s very down to earth and I love having her as a friend.

Today, I’m sharing with you one of my favorite quilts in the book: Zipped Path

The blocks are so fast to make!

Overall the book is a great resource for beginners!  Once you’ve build your skills as a quilter you’ll be able to tackle the more intermediate quilts.

If you’re interesting in seeing more quilts from the book visit these lovely gal:

Just thought I would check in really quick. . .

My sewing is almost at a halt right now. . which is not a good thing but it’s to be expected with all the shit that’s going on for an accountant this time of year.  Tax season is in high gear!!!!

Speaking of, if you didn’t see the MQG news?

I’ve been keeping the news on the d.l (down low), so it’s kind of a relief to share it finally with our local guild, friends, and family.

So far, it’s been a crazy awesome ride. 

Nothing really changed except my fun world is mixing with my serious world and that’s causing a little multi-personality disorder.  Lets see if I can explain that without sound 100% nuts. . .

1. I don’t mingle with co-workers so they usually don’t see my fun side

2. Rarely, do I let my friends see me at work.  And when they do – I’m 100% serious.

So when you take my work-self + quilty fun self . . it kind translate to goofball treasurer. . not that it’s a bad thing but I have to remind myself that jokes are not always appreciated in certain situations. ha!   With that said, I plan to work hard for the MQG and still keep it fun.

p.s here’s a little video of my kids chasing each other around the house.  The main reason why I wanted to record this was because I was really worried that my kids being 11yrs apart would never bond and care for each other like true siblings but they do and that worry can forever be buried away.

Today, I’m sharing with you my curry recipe.  I call it Sukie’s Curry in a Hurry – because as a full time working mom, I still want to make good meals for the family but they gotta be good and quick!

Ingredients:

1.5 – 2.0 lbs of chicken breast cut into chunks (now you could use pork/beef/or vegan – totally up to you)

2 yams peeled and chopped into chunks

1 onion cut into chunks (don’t you like how technical I’m am)

2 cans of Coconut Milk (see picture below on the brand I use)

1 can of low sodium Chicken broth (now if you’re pork/beef use Beef stock and vegan go with veggie stock)

3-4tbs of  Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste (you can find this in the asian aisle of the supermarket)

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Directions

• Get a huge pot or frying pan and coat the bottom with olive oil.  How much you use it dependant on you.  I usually use 2tbs
• Throw the yams and onion in and season with salt & pepper should look like below:

• Stir occasionally
• Cook til yams get a bit of brown around them like so:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper and throw them on into the big frying pan/pot you’re using.
• Stir occasionally
• Once the chicken is mostly cooked or white (it still can be pink, you just want some of the edges to be cooked) add in 3-4tbs of the curry paste – the more you add the spicier it will be.  I usually add in 4tbs.

• Stir and make sure most of the yummy good stuff gets coated (30-60secs of stirring folks)
• Add the 2 cans of coconut milk and the one can of brooth

• Simmer for 30-40mins (depends on your yams, once you can stab the biggest one through with a butter knife it’s done)
• (Optional if you want it to burn) Add a couple squirts of the Sriacha Hot Chile sauce

• Taste and salt and pepper to you taste buds desire. (you should be doing this throughout anyway to make sure you’re not way off)

Normally I serve the curry like a soup or over rice.  I like have a hearty piece of bread to sop up the yummy broth!  Also add other veggies as you see fit – I could see additions of chickpeas or peas.  If you don’t like yams put potatoes  really whatever floats your boat.

Fall/Winter quarter has past and I’m way, way, way late in mailing my blocks!  If you aren’t on Instagram/twitter – the block pattern I choose was made by the taleted Joanna of Shape Moth.  The block is called Snow Cristal.  It’s a great paper piece block.

(Picture of the Pattern provide from Shape Moth)

(My finished blocks for my bee mates)

The parts I struggled with is:

• I didn’t add the quarter inch to each piece at the beginning – main reason was I didn’t read the directions correctly.
• And then making the block 12.5×12.5 was a bit frustrating but I followed Lee’s instructions from Freshly Pieced and squared that sucker up.

The other quilt I started working on was the next one in Practical Guide to Patchwork Project – Valentine.

The colors that I’m going with it Yellow, Grey, Navy Blue, and Green. I was able to finish a quarter of the blocks this weekend and I’m really loving how it’s looking so far! If you have scraps this is a great pattern to use it with!!!

All n’ all . . I had a great productive weekend! Did you???

P.S. I’ve been asking the general crafty public if they have xmas fabric scraps they they want to get rid of if so please let me know. thanks!